States of Matter

 This week we had a fun visit from Joe Lopez (our own in-house Bill Nye the Science Guy!). He came to teach the kids about the states of matter: solid, liquid, gas (and plasma, but we'll save that for another time). Joe took us through some fascinating demonstrations showing us how matter transitions to the different states and why. 

Using liquid nitrogen, we got to see dry ice skip a stage and go from a solid to a gas! This process is called sublimation. Joe put soap in the mix so that we could actually "see" the gas emerge as bubbles. It was amazing! Joe also demonstrated that with the cold temperature of liquid nitrogen (something that exists as a gas in our atmosphere) could quickly turn the air inside a balloon to a liquid state. In one of the pictures below, you can actually see Joe holding up a red balloon with a small amount of liquid inside from the compression of the molecules at such cold temperatures. 

Finally, we saw Joe submerge flowers into the liquid nitrogen and when he removed them, they were stiff and brittle. The petals were easily brushed off the stems as they moisture had solidified. The whole presentation was very impressive and even inspired some of our students to say they want to be a scientist when they grow up! 

Three hip-hip-hoorays for Joe! Thanks for coming in!                                                                       (and Joe - please let us know if there are inaccuracies in our account of the science)

Duck Stamp Art!

 This week, the kids looked through all of their artworks for the Junior Duck Stamp contest. They have quite a collection - works done in pencil, colored pencil, watercolor, crayon wax resist, craypas, cut paper, and tempera paint. From this portfolio, each student chose their 2 best artworks. The one they considered their VERY best was sent into Mass Wildlife for the official contest. Their second best picture has been displayed outside the classrooms for our own in-house Lilja Duck Stamp Contest!

Each artwork has a number (no names) so that our in-house judges can give an unbiased decision about which artwork in each class they would merit with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or honorable mention awards. Our special judges include our principal and office staff, our nurse, our specialist teachers, our custodians and other professionals in the building who know our kids. They will be given their ballots on Monday and asked to return their recommendations for which artworks stand out. 

We don't know who will win, but are excited for ourselves and our classmates at the possibilities! It is a great growth opportunity for kids to learn how to be gracious in congratulating someone who wins and also be compassionate in comforting those whose works are not selected.  Learning to be happy for someone who wins can be the best way to defuse our own feelings of disappointment when we, ourselves, do not win. 

Check out the works below and ask your child which is theirs!